DOCSIS MAC layer-based ARQ for fixed wireless

Abstract

An apparatus and method of the present invention includes implementing an automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol in a DOCSIS wireless environment for fixed wireless applications. More specifically, an ARQ protocol is implemented at the medium access control (MAC) layer to provide fast response relative to convention ARQ protocols and logic that are implemented at higher layers (e.g., TCP/IP) in the OSI layered approach to system architecture and design. To achieve this result, a DOCSIS defined signal and header is modified to include an ARQ header containing various ARQ parameters. While some known approaches to ARQ involve retransmission of entire frames or blocks, the present invention contemplates provide control down to the packet data unit (PDU) level. To achieve this level of granularity, the ARQ header includes sequence numbers within each ARQ header. Accordingly, a transmitter re-transmits a lost transmission whenever it receives a “non-acknowledge” signal advising it of the failure and of the identity of the missing PDU.

1 . A method for transmitting wireless communication signals, comprising: 
 forming MAC layer signals according to a DOCSIS protocol;    adding, at the MAC layer, an ARQ header to each of the MAC layer signals;    transmitting the MAC layer signals; and    storing the MAC layer signals.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of adding an ARQ header includes adding a sequence number in the ARQ header.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further including storing transmitted frames until a negative acknowledge signal is received.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  further including receiving a non-acknowledge signal from a receiver, the non-acknowledge signal including a previously transmitted sequence number.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further including deleting a group of stored MAC layer signals, the group of stored MAC layer signals being a function of a value of the previously transmitted sequence number.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the group comprises all MAC layer signals transmitted prior to the MAC layer signal containing the previously transmitted sequence number.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  further including deleting a group of stored MAC layer signals after a specified period has elapsed since receiving the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  further including retrieving a stored MAC layer signal that corresponds with the previously transmitted sequence number received in the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further including transmitting the stored MAC layer signal that corresponds with the previously transmitted sequence number received in the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising deleting (flushing) all stored MAC layer signals that were transmitted prior to the stored MAC layer signal that corresponds with the previously transmitted sequence number received in the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 4  further including determining whether the previously transmitted sequence number identified in the acknowledge signal is corresponds to a sequence number for a stored MAC layer signal.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further including deleting all stored MAC layer signals if the sequence number identified in the acknowledge signal does not correspond to a sequence number for a stored MAC layer signal.  
   
   
       13 . A wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, comprising: 
 a receiver portion that receives acknowledge signals transmitted by another device over a wireless medium; and    a transmitter portion, wherein the transmitter portion: 
 forms MAC layer signals according to a DOCSIS protocol;  
 adds, at the MAC layer, an ARQ header containing a sequence number to each of the MAC layer signals;  
 transmits the MAC layer signals;  
 stores the MAC layer signals; and  
 deletes at least one stored MAC layer signal.  
   
   
   
       14 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 13  wherein the wireless transceiver stores transmitted frames until a negative acknowledge signal is received.  
   
   
       15 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 13  wherein the wireless transceiver receives and responds to an acknowledge signal from a receiver, the acknowledge signal including a previously transmitted sequence number.  
   
   
       16 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 15  wherein the wireless transceiver deletes a goup of stored MAC layer signals, the group of stored MAC layer signals being a function of a value of the previously transmitted sequence number.  
   
   
       17 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 16  wherein the group comprises all MAC layer signals transmitted prior to the MAC layer signal containing the previously transmitted sequence number.  
   
   
       18 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 16  wherein the wireless transceiver deletes a group of stored MAC layer signals after a specified period has elapsed since receiving the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       19 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 16  wherein the wireless transceiver retrieves a stored MAC layer signal that corresponds with the previously transmitted sequence number received in the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       20 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 19  wherein the wireless transceiver transmits the stored MAC layer signal that corresponds with the previously transmitted sequence number received in the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       21 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 20  wherein the wireless transceiver deletes (flushes) all stored MAC layer signals that were transmitted prior to the stored MAC layer signal that corresponds with the previously transmitted sequence number received in the acknowledge signal.  
   
   
       22 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 16  wherein the wireless transceiver determines whether the previously transmitted sequence number identified in the acknowledge signal is corresponds to a sequence number for a stored MAC layer signal.  
   
   
       23 . The wireless transceiver of  claim 22  wherein the wireless transceiver deletes all stored MAC layer signals if the sequence number identified in the acknowledge signal does not correspond to a sequence number for a stored MAC layer signal.  
   
   
       24 . A fixed wireless device, comprising: 
 means for communicating over a wireless physical layer;    means for communicating over a DOCSIS MAC layer; and    means for embedding an ARQ protocol in said DOCSIS MAC layer.    
   
   
       25 . The fixed wireless device of  claim 24  wherein the means for communicating includes a receiver portion that receives non-acknowledge signals transmitted by another device over a wireless medium and a transmitter portion, wherein the transmitter portion: 
 forms MAC layer signals according to a DOCSIS protocol;    adds, at the MAC layer, an ARQ header containing a sequence number to each of the MAC layer signals;    transmits the MAC layer signals;    stores the MAC layer signals; and    deletes at least one stored MAC layer signal.    
   
   
       26 . The fixed wireless device of  claim 25  wherein the fixed wireless device stores transmitted frames until either a non-acknowledge signal is received or a timer expires.